RV vs. Handcart

We set out early today and traveled from Lexington to Greenwood, NE, about 30 miles West of Omaha. We are staying at Pine Grove RV Park & Campground with electricity, water & sewer. We also have a cornfield across the grass area from us. That is about as easy as you can get when you think of all the trials the pioneers had coming across the Midwest.

After eating lunch and doing some laundry we decided to drive into Omaha to find Winter Quarters.

This is the temple at Winter Quarters. They were closed today so we could not go in, but it was beautiful all the same. Instead we went across the street to the visitor center.

There were lots of displays with original goods from the Mormon Pioneers who crossed the prairie. The visitor center did a great job explaining the reasons for the trek and all the organization that went into it. It was really amazing to see, read and hear about all the work the Saints did. They even established an organized town with businesses and permanent buildings when they knew this was just a temporary stop. I can't explain how much I appreciate the faith they had in their journey.

Two sister missionaries were talking to us outside the visitor center and offered to take a picture of us next to the statue of the handcart family. They walked the entire way from Nauvoo, IL to Salt Lake City. We just started the engine and drove from Salt Lake to Winter Quarters and will go to Nauvoo next week. Not even a close comparison to the early Saints (and any other pioneers crossing the plains.)

Tomorrow is Independence Day and we will just stay in camp and relax. There will be some activities at the campground including an ice cream social and fireworks and we are going to BBQ hamburgers and mingle with our fellow campers. May you have a great day and think about all the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf so that we may have the freedom we do have in the USA.